Article of clothing and multilayer fabric for clothing

ABSTRACT

Article of clothing comprising at least one portion ( 2 ) having an outer fabric ( 3 ) and an inner fabric ( 4 ), mutually coupled together along at least a respective coupling edge ( 5 ); said portion ( 2 ) further comprises an insert ( 6 ) made of silicone material and interposed between said first and second fabric ( 3, 4 ); said insert ( 6 ) having at least one side ( 7 ) sewn to the fabrics ( 3, 4 ) in correspondence of said coupling edge ( 5 ), and at least one free side ( 8 ) not coupled to the fabrics ( 3, 4 ).

The object of the present invention is an article of clothing and a multilayer fabric for clothing.

In particular, the present invention relates to an article of clothing such as a polo shirt, a t-shirt, a shirt, a jacket, a sweater, a coat, a quilted jacket or in general any garment having a neck, a collar, a turn-up or a cuff.

The present invention also relates to a multilayer fabric preferably used for manufacturing at least one portion of the above mentioned articles of clothing.

As known, some garments, such as shirts, have semi-rigid inserts inside the collar to make the collar stiffer and “stretch” it if compared to the shirt.

Similarly, also other types of garments may have internal inserts aimed at making at least one portion of the garment stiffer, e.g. cuffs, collar or any other part that needs to be stiff for purely aesthetic purposes.

However, such inserts are made of particularly rigid materials such as plastic or hard cardboard, in order to provide for a stiffer structure to the garment and prevent any wrinkles or folds from appearing.

However, the above mentioned inserts are particularly uncomfortable when worn since they are characterized by a stiff structure and therefore cannot not easily worn by the user.

In other words, the inserts that are in contact with body parts appear to be uncomfortable, especially if they are in contact with sensitive areas, such as the user's neck.

A number of inserts that are used in sports clothes for instance, aim at protecting the user from any accidental shocks.

These inserts are sewn into the garment in specific areas of the garment so as to protect specific body parts from external shock.

For this purpose, elastic and flexible inserts are used, and therefore they are comfortable for the user, and entirely connected to the fabric to maintain the insert in the desired position.

However, even this solution has some drawbacks.

In fact, the aforesaid inserts, which as above described are entirely connected to the fabric, tend to deform and folds and wrinkles appear in the fabric thus making this solution unsuitable for aesthetic purposes.

Moreover, the elastic structure of the insert may show signs of damage over time, especially if subjected to high temperatures, which may happen during washing, in such a way they lose their flexibility and resistance, thus the insert may detach from the corresponding fabric.

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose an article of clothing and a multilayer fabric that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above.

In particular, the present invention wants to provide an article of clothing equipped with stiff areas able to keep the fabric in a “stretched” configuration and be, at the same time, comfortable for the user.

Moreover, the present invention wants to propose a versatile multilayer fabric for articles of clothing that can be used for any type of clothing and any area of that same article of clothing which must be structurally reinforced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an article of clothing equipped with a stable insert, not subject to wear or damage even if subjected to high washing temperatures.

One or more of the above objects are achieved by means of an article of clothing according to the present invention, as specified in the attached claims and/or having at least one of the following features, which can be in turn combined with these claims.

In a first aspect, according to claim 1, this invention relates to an article of clothing comprising at least a portion having an outer fabric and an inner fabric, mutually coupled together along at least a respective seam edge; The portion has also an insert made of silicone material, interposed between said first and second fabric, wherein the insert has at least one side sewn to the fabrics in correspondence of the coupling edge, and at least one free side, not coupled to the fabrics.

In such a way, the insert appears to be sewn only on one side and it is thus free to adapt to the shape of the fabric by keeping it always in the “stretched” configuration.

Note that the insert is also comfortable due to the elastic and flexible nature of the silicone material.

A possible embodiment of a device according to the present invention may comprise at least one of the following technical aspects.

Preferably, the aforementioned portion is defined by the collar and/or at least one cuff of the article of clothing.

In this way, both the collar and the cuff are “stretched” without being excessively stiffened.

Preferably, in the case of the collar, the insert comprises a sheet structure and a substantially rectangular peripheral development in which the sewn side and the free side are defined by the corresponding longer sides of the rectangular development of the insert.

Preferably, the insert comprises three sewn sides and a free side; said sewn sides are defined by their respective shorter sides and a longer side of the rectangular development of the insert.

In this way, a side of the insert is always free and therefore not bound to the fabric, in order to extend and adapt to the shape of the fabric.

Consequently, the insert does not undergo any deformation determined by the fabric because it is not connected to the fabric itself.

Preferably, in the case of the cuff, the insert comprises a sheet structure and a substantially cylindrical peripheral development; said sewn side and said free side are defined by the corresponding circular sides of said cylindrical insert.

Preferably, the insert has a thickness comprised between 0.4 and 0.6 mm, and then it turns out to be very thin; for this reason, it is easier to wear and more comfortable for the user.

Preferably, the insert is made of a solid silicone rubber; said insert being flexible, elastic and resistant to high temperatures.

In such a way, it is possible is to let the article of clothing undergo to high temperatures, which characterize washing or ironing, without damaging the insert.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a multilayer fabric for clothing comprising an outer fabric and an inner fabric, mutually coupled to one another along at least a respective coupling edge and an insert made of silicone material and interposed between said first and second fabric. The insert has at least one side sewn to the fabrics of said coupling edge, and at least one free side that is not coupled to the fabrics.

The features of the present invention will be clarified by reading the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof provided by way of illustration, and not limitation, of the more general claimed concepts.

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an article of clothing, in particular a polo shirt, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the article of FIG. 1 which is a multilayer fabric according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along the III-III line of the portion of the article shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view along the III-III line of the portion of the article shown in FIG. 2 and in line with a second embodiment of this invention.

With reference to the attached figures, the numeral 1 refers to an article of clothing as a whole.

Advantageously, the present invention is preferably applied to polo shirts, as shown in FIG. 1.

However, it must be considered that the present invention can be used for any type of article of clothing such as a shirt, a jacket, a sweatshirt, a coat and a quilted jacket, or in general any garment equipped with a neck, a collar, a turn-up or a cuff.

Further details show that article 1 comprises at least a portion 2, having an outer fabric 3 and an inner fabric 4, mutually coupled together along at least the respective coupling edge 5.

By way of example, FIG. 1 shows a portion 2 defined by the collar of article 1.

It should however be considered that the portion 2 can be defined by any area of the article of clothing 1, such as the cuffs.

As it is better shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when used, the external fabric 3 is easily seen from the outside, whereas the inner fabric 4 is positioned towards the user and, in any case, it cannot be seen from the outside. The two fabrics are then coupled together by means of the said coupling edge 5 running along the end line of the portion 2 and defining, in the specific case shown in the figures, the mentioned collar of the polo shirt 1. The portion 2 further comprises an insert 6 made of silicone material and interposed between the first and the second fabric 3, 4.

The insert 6 develops preferably along the whole length of the aforementioned coupling edge 5.

Advantageously, the insert has at least one side 7 sewn to the fabric 3, 4 on the coupling edge 5, and at least one free side 8 which is not permanently coupled to the fabric 3, 4.

According to a further embodiment (not shown in the annexed figures), the insert 6 can be sewn to the fabric 3, 4, along all sides, and then along the entire corresponding peripheral length. In such a situation, no free side is envisaged.

Still, the insert 6 is coupled to the fabric 3, 4 with a coupling that can be of any type suitable to anchor the insert 6 between the two fabrics.

Note that the present structure defined by the two fabrics 3, 4 coupled together and by the insert 6 interposed between the fabrics, the insert itself being coupled to the same fabrics in correspondence of the edge 5, defines a multilayer fabric that can be used for any garment.

Preferably, the insert 6 comprises a sheet structure that is between 0.4 and 0.6 mm thick. A very thin layer of silicon is then interposed between the fabrics.

In the case of the collar, insert 6 comprises a peripheral development that is substantially of a rectangular shape wherein the sewn side 7 and the free side 8 are defined by the corresponding longer sides of the rectangular development of the insert 6 itself.

Preferably, in this case the insert 6 comprises three sewn sides 7 and a free side 8; said sewn sides are defined by their respective shorter sides and a longer side of the rectangular development of the insert 6.

In the case of the cuffs, the insert 6 comprises a substantially cylindrical peripheral development, wherein the sewn side 7 and the free side 8 are defined by the corresponding circular edges of the cylindrical insert 6.

Note that, in this case, the matching coupling edge 5 and sewn side 7 are arranged in correspondence of a substantially linear end of the collar or substantially circular end of the cuff.

Advantageously, the insert 6 is made of a solid silicone rubber and therefore features high flexibility and elasticity.

Furthermore, the solid silicone rubber is particularly resistant to high temperatures.

Consequently, the article 1 and the respective multilayer fabric can be washed/ironed and anyway subjected to high temperatures while maintaining the structural and mechanical characteristics of the silicone rubber insert 6.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the insert 6, which appears to be connected to the fabric 3, 4 only in correspondence of one side 7, is free to adapt to the shape of the fabrics. Consequently, the insert 6 keeps the portion 2 (collar and/or cuffs) appropriately stretched, thus preventing folds or wrinkles from appearing on the fabric.

In addition to that, according to a further embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the insert 6 is glued to the corresponding fabric without sewing it to the fabric. In particular, at least one side of the insert is glued to a respective fabric 3, 4 opposed to that side.

Preferably, both opposing sides of the insert 6 are glued to the corresponding fabrics 3, 4.

The gluing system can be of any type. In particular, it may comprise one adhesive layer of the insert 6 which, in contact with the fabric and by applying a relative pressure, defines a stable anchor.

Such adhesive layer may also be activated as a result of a thermal action during which fabrics are heated and stretched.

Advantageously, the insert 6 is particularly suitable for articles 1, such as for example polo shirts, that do not have rigid fabric portions and still need to be reinforced to give a “stretched” appearance to such portions. Advantageously, the special elastic and flexible structure of the insert 6 is particularly comfortable for the user and has many consequent advantages in terms of wearability of the article of clothing 1. 

1. Article of clothing comprising at least a portion (2) having an outer fabric (3) and an inner fabric (4), mutually coupled together along at least a respective coupling edge (5); characterized in that said portion (2) further comprises an insert (6) made of silicone material and interposed between said first and second fabric (3, 4), said insert (6) extending at least along the entire development of the coupling edge (5).
 2. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that said insert (6) comprises at least one side (7) sewn to the fabrics (3, 4) on said coupling edge (5), and at least one free side (8) not bound to the fabrics (3, 4).
 3. Article according to claim 2, characterized in that said portion (2) comprises a collar and/or at least one cuff of said article of clothing.
 4. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that said insert (6) comprises a rectangular sheet structure having a substantially peripheral development; said sewn side (7) and free side (8) being defined by the respective largest sides of the rectangular development of the insert (6).
 5. Article according to claim 4, characterized in that said insert (6) comprises three sewn sides (7) and a free side (8); said sewn sides (7) being defined by respective shortest sides and a largest side of the rectangular development of the insert (6).
 6. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that said insert (6) comprises a sheet structure having a substantially peripheral cylindrical development; said sewn side (7) and free side (8) being defined by respective circular edges of said cylindrical insert (6).
 7. Article according to claim 3, characterized in that said coupling edge (7) and said sewn side (5) are arranged in correspondence of a substantially linear end of said collar or a substantially circular end of said cuff.
 8. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that said insert (6) comprises at least one side glued to its corresponding fabric (3, 4).
 9. Article according to claim 8, characterized in that said insert (6) has opposing sides, each one of which is glued to its corresponding fabric (3, 4).
 10. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that said insert (6) has a thickness between 0.4 and 0.6 mm.
 11. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that said insert (6) is made of a solid silicone rubber; said insert (6) being flexible, elastic and resistant to high temperatures.
 12. Multilayer fabric for clothing comprising an outer fabric (3) and an inner fabric (4), mutually coupled together along at least a respective coupling edge (5); characterized in that it further comprises an insert (6) made of silicone material and interposed between said first and second fabric (3, 4); said insert (6) having at least one side (7) sewn to the fabrics (3, 4) in correspondence of said coupling edge (5), and at least one free side (8) not bound to the fabrics (3, 4).
 13. Multilayer fabric for clothing comprising an outer fabric (3) and an inner fabric (4), mutually coupled together along at least a respective coupling edge (5); characterized in that it further comprises an insert (6) made of silicone material and interposed between said first and second fabric (3, 4); said insert (6) having at least one of the sides which is glued to one of said fabrics (3, 4). 